America Ferrera joining 'Chicago' cast in London

Who knew? Ugly Betty can sing! Emmy-winning actress America Ferrera will join the London cast of the long-running musical Chicago next month, EW has learned exclusively. Ferrera will play Roxie Hart, the role made famous by Gwen Verdon and Ann Reinking on Broadway and Renée Zellweger in the 2002 film. (American Idol‘s Kara DioGuardi is currently playing Roxie on Broadway.) Ferrera’s eight-week stint will begin on November 7.

After her run in Chicago, Ferrera will then make her Broadway debut in a revival of Beth Henley’s 1984 play, The Miss Firecracker Contest, about a Mississippi woman who enters a beauty pageant. Holly Hunter filled the role off-Broadway as well as in the 1989 film Miss Firecracker. Ferrera begins rehearsals in March; the production, to be directed by Judith Ivey, will premiere next spring.

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